Shoftim 21:06 · unit 2

TT #377 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 21:06

The Complete Passuk

וְכֹ֗ל זִקְנֵי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔וא הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל יִרְחֲצוּ֙ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־הָעֶגְלָ֖ה הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה בַנָּֽחַל׃

And all the elders of that city who are nearest to the slain person shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 209.

TT lemma: עַל הָעֶגְלָה הָעֲרוּפָה בַנָּחַל.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 209

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
עַל הָעֶגְלָה הָעֲרוּפָה בַנָּחַל – בְּמָקוֹם הָעֲרִיפָה.

English: ‘Over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley’ – at the place of the arifah.

On the daf / in context: The washing is performed at the site of the killing.

Type of Learning

Derash on the location of the washing (Sifrei) — it must be done over the animal in the valley.

What Is Learned

The hand-washing takes place in the valley, over the body of the heifer that has just been killed.